Chapter 124: Is It True?
TL: Aniea
“Kang Woo-ju ssi! Over here!”
As I stepped outside after finishing my conversation with Chairman Kim Seok-ho, Kim Eun-ha gestured to me from the passenger side window. She must have been so worried that she followed me all the way home.
Seeing her face brought back the conversation I’d just had with the chairman, stirring up complicated emotions within me.
‘...The reason Eun-ha ssi entered the successor competition.’
I had always been curious.
Why was Kim Eun-ha, unlike her cousins of the same age, going head-to-head with relatives old enough to be her parents, 20 to 30 years older? Was the chairman position really worth all that effort?
At first, I assumed it was just a reflection of her intense competitiveness and desire for self-realization.
But more recently, after seeing glimpses of her secrets, such as her claustrophobia, my thoughts changed.
‘It’s not just a simple desire.’
Even in private settings with just the two of us, Kim Eun-ha referred to Kim Seok-ho not as “grandfather” but as “Chairman.”
Also, the visibly uncomfortable expression on her face when she encountered Butler Kim was completely unlike her usual self.
The decisive moment was after the play ended, when someone who arguably knew more about Kim Eun-ha than she did herself, Kang Han-na, dropped a subtle hint.
-Oppa, please save unnie.
-Huh?
-No matter what anyone says, oppa is the prince. You're the only one who can break the evil sorcerer’s curse and save the princess.
-...You’re not talking about the play, are you?
-Hehe. Who knows? Ah! Eun-ha unnie is glaring again. I want to live a long life, so from here on out, it’s all up to you, oppa!
-Hey! Wait....
Ignoring my urgent call, Kang Han-na scampered over to Kim Cheol-su and teased the flustered guy to her heart’s content.
Watching her from behind, a flood of thoughts overwhelmed me. Kang Han-na’s advice was not something to take lightly.
The “princess” was clearly referring to Kim Eun-ha. I began pondering what the “evil sorcerer” and his “curse” might be.
Eventually, I was able to guess why Kim Eun-ha entered the successor competition and realized that the pillar supporting her life was “revenge.”
‘It was such a serious matter that I was taken aback at first...’
Who the culprit was.
How much she knew.
How she planned to carry out her revenge.
So many questions clouded my mind, but there wasn’t much I could do for her at the moment. All I could do was wait.
But it wasn’t just a purely contractual relationship like before. Now that I genuinely liked Kim Eun-ha as a woman, I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
-Please tell me who murdered Eun-ha ssi’s parents.
The moment I asked, Chairman Kim Seok-ho’s face twisted like that of a demon, and the image still lingered vividly in my mind.
But I had no regrets.
It was a mountain I had to climb someday.
-How insolent.
Chairman Kim Seok-ho, who glared at me as if he might devour me any moment, clicked his tongue and spat out those words.
He habitually searched inside his jacket for a cigarette and chain-smoked in silence until the room filled with a haze of smoke.
How long did I wait like that? Only after the cigarette pack was completely empty and no more cigarettes remained did the chairman finally open his mouth.
-Is it true?
-It is true.
-I’m asking about your feelings for Eun-ha.
-Even so, my answer doesn’t change.
There was nothing to hesitate about at this point. No matter how our relationship turned out, I just wanted Kim Eun-ha to be a little happier.
-…….
At my unwavering response, Chairman Kim Seok-ho fell silent once again. He fiddled pointlessly with the empty cigarette pack, then finally spoke again after a long pause.
-Fine. I acknowledge it.
Crunch-
Chairman Kim Seok-ho crushed the cigarette pack in his hand, then immediately cast his gaze at me.
When our eyes met, I instinctively flinched. His gaze was entirely different from before.
Despite being basic human emotions, joy, sorrow, anger, his eyes held none of them. They were cold and expressionless.
Until now, he felt more like a cranky old man, but in this moment, I was truly face-to-face with the “Chairman.”
-One year. For exactly one year from now, I won’t touch you. Whether you date or fight or whatever, do as you wish.
-Thank yo-
-However, by the end of this year, you must prove yourself to everyone. Prove that you are a fitting person to be a part of Mirae Group.
-When you say prove...
-Anything is fine. You can bring as much cash as the bank president. Or wield that much political influence. Just prove that you’re worth something.
It was absurd.
Within a year, I had to rise to become someone with assets worth hundreds of billions or even become a member of the National Assembly. But things like that don't just fall from the sky.
-What, are you lacking confidence?
-I don’t believe the Chairman would make a proposal that is statistically close to impossible. I assume those aren’t the only qualifying conditions.
-You’re no fun. Well, I am a businessman after all. Since you’ve given me something interesting in an otherwise boring life, I’ll return the favor and balance things out a bit.
Chuk-!
With that, the Chairman suddenly held up a single finger in front of me and continued.
-Your profession is an actor, correct? I’m not particularly fond of it, but I admit that influence over the public is a power that can’t be ignored these days.
-So, what you’re saying is....
-Prove that you’re the best actor in the country. Whether it’s the Baeksang or the Blue Dragon, anything from a credible organization is fine. Bring me the grand prize.
This, too, was absurd.
For an actor who hadn't even debuted for a full year, being told to win a grand prize, not even a rookie award, was nothing short of unreasonable.
Aside from the recent play with Kim Eun-ha, the only official work I had ever appeared in was <Peaceful Chaebol Life>.
Of course, that show had stirred up the entire country, and my performance had stood out. But grand prizes weren’t awarded based solely on acting skill.
‘...There’s a high chance I’ll end up with a rookie award at best.’
In fact, the true candidate for a grand acting award would be my senior co-star Kim Young-ho, both in terms of experience and overall presence.
Still, despite all that.
I smiled.
-Thank you for your consideration.
I meant it.
To be honest, considering Chairman Kim Seok-ho’s position and personality, I was a thorn in his side. It would have been simplest and cleanest to pluck me out without hesitation.
And yet he bothered to tailor the challenge to suit my profession. From his perspective, that was an enormous concession.
-……
Perhaps he expected me to object, because for a moment, Chairman Kim Seok-ho’s face turned sour. I seized the moment and added,
-If I succeed in proving myself, please give me your answer.
-If you succeed, that is.
Chairman Kim Seok-ho swallowed the rest of his sentence, but it wasn’t hard to guess what would’ve followed.
He meant he’d silence me.
Quite literally.
Even knowing that, I accepted his proposal. From the moment I stepped into the room, my neck had already been on the line.
-You may go now.
Chairman Kim Seok-ho, as if his interest had waned, leaned back into the sofa. I stood up, bowed deeply to him, and left the room.
“...ssi.”
My mind was a mess.
If I did meet the condition he set and found out who murdered Kim Eun-ha’s parents, then what should I do?
If I handed over all the information to Kim Eun-ha, given her personality, she would never sit still. She might even take matters into her own hands for revenge.
“...Woo-ju ssi!”
I knew there were quite a few people Kim Eun-ha had already “taken care of”. But handling it herself was a whole different matter.
More than anything, if she did succeed in her revenge, then what would happen?
“Woo-ju ssi-!!”
Whish, whish-!
While I was lost in thought, Kim Eun-ha got out of the car and grabbed my shoulders, shaking me.
Snapping out of my daze, I barely managed to collect my scattered thoughts and opened my mouth.
“Ah... I’m sorry. My mind’s a bit all over the place right now.”
“Are you okay? Did something happen? Did that man threaten you or something? Or maybe-”
“I’ll tell you everything. But first, calm down. Please, calm down.”
Her voice was rising like an escalator, getting louder and faster. I lightly patted her shoulder and spoke.
She narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but I had already fixed my expression.
“Shall we head home first?”
“...Okay.”
The way her lips jutted out suggested she had a lot she wanted to say, but surprisingly, she nodded obediently.
After all, in front of Chairman Kim Seok-ho’s gate wasn’t the best place for a conversation.
More than that, seeing how drained I looked, maybe this was her way of showing some consideration.
“.......”
“.......”
Kim Eun-ha silently took the wheel, and I, who had climbed into the passenger seat, also stayed quiet for a while.
As we made our way home, we both remained silent, almost as if it had been prearranged.
“Now, tell me.”
Of course, her consideration extended only that far. The moment we stepped into the house, Kim Eun-ha crossed her arms, and even her legs, as she cornered me.
Suppressing a bitter smile inwardly, I sat down across from her. I had fully expected this much.
“Where should I start with this...”
“From the very beginning.”
“It’s going to be a long story.”
“That’s why you shouldn’t waste time and just start.”
Mmm-
At Kim Eun-ha’s determined tone, I shook my head in resignation. Then, I recounted the conversation I had with Chairman Kim Seok-ho.
Of course, I left out the part about her parents. There was no benefit in her knowing that right now.
“You’re saying that if you win a grand acting award or Best Actor within one year, he’ll overlook our relationship, our... ‘contract’?”
“That’s correct.”
Kim Eun-ha hesitated briefly at the word “relationship” but put strong emphasis on the word “contract.”
It was such a mismatched scene for the current situation that I almost laughed, but I barely held it in and simply nodded.
“Hmm....”
Kim Eun-ha closed her eyes and sank into thought. While I took everything at face value, it seemed she interpreted it differently.
“...He’s not the type to accept someone else’s opinion so easily. What is the Chairman really thinking? Don’t tell me... he actually likes Woo-ju ssi!?”
Kim Eun-ha muttered to herself, lost in her thoughts. As I quietly watched her, the complicated thoughts in my mind began to fade one by one.
Her lips, constantly moving. The slight furrow in her brow. Even the way her feet restlessly fidgeted, unable to endure the frustration.
When I looked at Kim Eun-ha like that, it was so overwhelming that I couldn’t think of anything else.
“...Why are you looking at me like that?”
I must’ve spaced out longer than I thought, because at some point, Kim Eun-ha had opened her eyes and was looking at me. I met her gaze directly and said,
“I should learn how to swim.”
“...What? Out of nowhere? Why?”
“So I don’t drown in you.”
...An awkward silence followed.
Kim Eun-ha made an inexplicably bizarre expression that made it impossible to read what she was feeling. Realizing what I’d just said, my face flushed with embarrassment.
“...I-I’m tired, so I’ll head up first!”
The silence that had settled between us was so heavy it became unbearable, so I fled the scene without even waiting for her reply.
***
Dadadat-!
Kang Woo-ju, who had suddenly dropped a bombshell, fled to his room. Kim Eun-ha, left all alone, stared blankly at the empty space where he had been.
‘W-What the hell-!?’
Poof-!
If this were a comic, that’s the sound effect that would’ve popped up. Kim Eun-ha’s entire face turned bright red, beyond what even makeup could cover.
Kang Woo-ju, who had stared at her with such intensity it seemed like lasers might shoot out of his eyes. And then, with an uncharacteristically serious face, he said what?
‘...Is he actually crazy!?’
Dodoodo-!
Though she’d heard countless compliments about her looks, she had zero immunity to such cringeworthy lines. Hugging the cushion beside her, Kim Eun-ha bounced her feet restlessly for quite a while.
*****
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